Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-10-22
Daylight sped along at long stretching

Daylight sped along at long stretching
hand gallop, giving tile gaunt Zulu lift Mt
every stride. 1t was a wonderful thing TO
see old Umslopogaas run mile ofter mile. his
lips slightly parted and his noStIils agapo like
tho horses. Every five miles or 20 westopped
for o few minutes to let him get his breath,
and then flew on again.
@Canst thou go farther" said at The third
Of these stoppages, "or shall leave thee to
follow met"
Ho pointed with his az to a dim mass be-
fore US. 1t was the Temple Of the Sun. now
rot moro than five miles away
~ reach IL or die" be gasped.
Oh, that last Eve milesl Tho skin was
rubbed from the inside of my legs, and every
movement Of my horse gave me anguish
Nor was that ALL was exhausted with toll,
want OF food and sleep, and also suffering
very muc, from the blow l had received
on my LETT side; il seemed as though piece
Of bono or something was slowly piercing
into my lung. Poor Daylight, too, was pretty
nearly finished, and no wonder, But there
was smell of dawn in the air. and we might
not stay; better that all three Of us should
die upon the road than that we should linger
while there was life in us. The dir was thick
and heavy, as it sometimes is before the dawn
breaks, and-another infalible sign in GER
tain parts Of Zu-Vendis that sunrise is at
hand-hundreds Of little spiders pendent on
the end OF long tough webs were floating
about in 1t. These early rising creatures, or
rather their webs, caught upon the horses
and our own forms by scores, and as we had
neither the time nor the energy to brush them
off we rushed along covered with hundreds
Of long gray threads that streamed outa yard
or more behind us-and very strange APP
pearance they must have given us.
And now before us are the huge brazen
gates OF the outer wall OF tho Browning City,
and new and horrible doubt strikes me:
What IL they will not let US inl
"Openl cpen!" I shout imIeriously, at tho
same time giving theroyal password. "Opcni
openl messenger, O messenger with tidings
of the war!"
"What newsl" cried the guard. "And who
art thou that ridest so madlyl and who is
that whose tongue Tolls out"-and 1t actually
did-''and who runs by thee like dog by a
chariotp
sit is the Lord Macumazahn, and with him
is his dog, bis black dog. Open! opcnl
bring tidings.p
The great gates ran back on their rollers,
and the drawbridge fell with a rafting crash,
and we dashed on through the one and over
| the other
"What news, my lorli what news" cried
the guard.
"Incubu rolls Sorais back, as the wind a
clou J." answered, and was gone.
One moro effort, gallant horse, and yet
more gallant man!
So, fall not now, Daylight; and hold thy
life in thee for fifteen short minutes more, old
Zulu war dog, and We shall both live forever
IN the annals Of the land.
On, Gathering through the sleeping streets
We ere passing the Flower Temple now-on'
mile more, only one little mile--hold on, keeI
your life ia ye, see the houses run past o.
themselves. Up, good horse, up, there-bu
fifty yards now. Ali you see your stables
and stagger on CALAMITY.
"Thank God, the palace at lasti" and see
the first arrows Of the dawn are striking OF
tie temples golden dome. But shall get il
here, or is the deed done and the way barred
Once more l give the password and shou
"Open! openl'
No answer, ard my heart grows very faint
| ARuln CUil, anu tulS lillio u SlnSie Oicc re
plies, and to my joy recognize it as belong
ing TO Kara, fellow officer of Nyleptha'
/, guards, man know to be IS honest as til
, lght--indeed, the same whom Nyleptha ha
sent to arrest Sorais ON the day she fled to til
| temple.
"Is it thou, Kara?" cry; ~ am Macuma
zahn Bid the guard let down the bridge an
throw wide the gate Quick, quick!'
Then followed a space that seemed to m
, LESS; but at length the bridge fell and on
half of the gate opened, and We got into t.
courtyard, where at last poor Daylight fe
s down beneath me, as l thought, dead
struggled free, and leaning against q pos
looked around Except Kara there was M
D body to be seen, and his look was wild, an
his garments were all torn. He had opene
| the gate and let down tho bridge alone, an
s was now getting them up and shut again Ia
e owing to a very ingenious arrangement {
G cranks and levers, ono man could easily d.
b and indeed generally did dol.
j "Where are the guard ~ gasped, fearin
j his answer as never feared anything befor
u II know not" he answered; 1.-TWO hours ag
IS as l slept, was I seized and bound by IL
}; watch under me, and but now, this very M
e ment, have freed myself with my teeth.
e fear. ! greatly fear. that we are betrayed"
- - - "A